Tile-making machine



Feb. 12 1924 1,483,513

'M. KATCHER ET AL TILE MAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 1923 Feb 12 1924. 1,483,513

M. KATCHER ET AL.

TILE MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Elm/vent 014 Feb 12 1924.,

M. KATCHER ET AL Filed Feb. 27, 1923 TILE MAKING MACHINE Gl tozump 25 bodying the invention;

MORRIS KA'ICEER, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND ROWLAND MOWILLIAMS, OF MONT- CLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO REPUBLIC FIBEPROOFING COMPANY, INC., OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TILE-MA MACHINE.

5 (2)Montclair, in the counties of (1) kings, -(2) Essex and States of (1) New York,

(2) New jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tile-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This "invention relates to a machine for making hollow tile.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a machine of the type referred to 15 for rapidly producing hollow blocks or tiles of uniform size and density.

The invention, the principle of operation and the advantages derived therefrom will be fully described in the specification and 20 the drawings forming a part thereof, and the points of novelty will be distinctly pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine em- Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of detail mech anism; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of a detail.

An outer mould and an inner mould or core 11 are uniformly spaced to define a vertical interspace 12 for receiving the material to be moulded, or concrete in particular.

The outer mould 10 has lateral lugs 13 secured upon vertical rods 14 which are interconnected by a cross frame or yoke 15. From the cross frame 15 depend rods 16' to which the inner mould element or core 11 is secured. The moulds 10 and 11 are thus disposed in fixed relation relatively to each other. The rods 14 are supported for vertical movement in bearings in the frame 17.

Upon rods 14 is slidably mounted by i means of lugs 18 the punch holder 19 carrying the ram 20 which is hollow and has generally a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the mould space 12.

In practice only the lower portion 20 accurately fits the mould space and forms the piston element for compressing the material in the mould while the remaining portion of the ram is of smaller cross-sectional area to eliminate friction, as is readily understood. From journals 21 on the punch holder extend downwardly, preferably through guide lugs 23 on the frame 17, rods 22 pivotally connected to one end of levers 24 which are keyed upon shaft 25.

The mould 10 and the core 11 are normally supported upon a pallette 26. An endless chain system 27 is mounted upon sprocket Wheels 28 and 29 and the upper flight thereof passes in a horizontal plane below the mould. The upper flight of the chain passes through guide channels in the upper horizontal surface of the frame 17 which latter forms a support for the pallettes. The chain is provided at definitely and uniformly spaced points with projections 30 which form shoulders for successively moving pallettes into and out of position directly below the mould elements 10 and 11. As will aresuccessively moved to a position directly below the mould elements and remain there in fixed position during theinterval of rest.

Generally stated the operation of the machine is as follows: While the ram, 20, the mould elements 10 and 11 and a pallette are in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, concrete or other material is fed into the interspace 12. Then the ram is caused to descend into the interspace to compress the charge. Thereupon the ram is lifted but slightly to relieve the compressed material of the pressure and simultaneously the mould elements lo and 11 are raised while the ram remains stationary to leave the moulded material upon the pallette. Then the ram is lifted to its original position while the chain system is moved carrying.

away the pallette with the moulded material and simultaneously placing another pallette in its place whereupon the mould is returned to its lowest position upon another pallette.

The mechanism for carrying out the operation just described is as follows:

in the lower part of the frame 17 is mounted a cam shaft 31 carrying a plurality ofcams. At opposite ends of the shaft 31 are disposed like cams 32co-operating with rollers 33 on levers 24.

Upon shaft 31 are also mounted cams 34 co-operating with rollers 35 upon levers 36 which engage through rollers 37 yoke 38 secured to the rods 14. Shafts 36 are loosely mounted upon an auxiliary shaft 39.

Secured upon shaft 31 is also a cam 40 bearing through roller 41 upon arm 42 of a bell crank lever the other arm 43 of which carries a segmental gear 44.

Finally the shaft 31 carries a cam 45 which co-operates through the roller 46 with a lever 47 keyed to shaft 25. The cam 45 is so shaped that through its co-operation with lever 47 and shaft 25 the lever 24 is maintained in contact with its cam 32 against the action of gravity. Cam 32 is so shaped that when the lever 24 follows it, the rods 22 are moved through a predetermined cycle of' motion. While cam 32 positively determines the downward movement of lever 24 and rods 22, cam 45 through co-operation with lever 47 and shaft 25 supports the lever 24 and rods 22 and positively determines the prescribed upward movement thereof. In other words cams 32 and 45 are complementary and through their co-operation positively move the rods 22 through a prescribed cycle.

Cams 34 are so shaped that through their cooperation with levers 36 the rods 14 are moved through a prescribed cycle. Since the levers 36 are disposed above the cams 34, the weight of the rods 14 and the mould elements 10-, 11 and other parts carried thereby insures positive contact between levers 36 and cams 34.

On the shaft 28 carrying the sprocket wheel 28 is loosely mounted a gear 48 in mesh with the segmental gear 44. Secured to the gear 48 is a bracket 48 carrying a pawl 49 and a spring for forcing it into engagement with a ratchet wheel 50 keyed upon the shaft 28. When the segmental gear 44 moves to the right (Fig. l) the pawl 49 moves in counter-clockwise direction with gear 48 and turns the ratchet wheel 50 together with the shaft 28, s rocket wheel 28 and the chain 27. When t e segmental gear moves in opposite direction, the awl slides over the teeth of the ratchet w eel 50. The cam 40 is so shaped that the chain is moved a distance equal to the distance between adjacent projections 30 and is so disposed relatively to the cams 32 and 34 that movement of the chain takes place when the mould elements 10 and 11 1n their upward movement have cleared the formed block and have left it free upon th pallette.

Fig. 1 shows the relative position of the cams and levers when the machine is at rest after a cycle of operation is completed. In

51. When the interspace is filled. the machine is set into motion. The cams 32 and 43 are so shaped and angularly disposed relatively to each other that first the ram descends into the interspacc and compresses the material to a predetermined depth while the mould elements 10 and 11 remain stationary and that as soon as the compression of the material in the mould is completed, the mould elements 10 and 11 begin to rise and continue their upward motion until they are clear of the moulded block while the ram remains substantially stationary.

The cams 32 and the counter cam 45 are so shaped that the ram 20 is raised just a trifle, after the compression is completed and just before or at the moment the mould elements 10 and 11 commence to rise. sufficient to relieve the moulded block of pressure. The shape of'the cams is further such that as soon as the moulded block is free of the mould elements, the ram is raised while the chain 27 is set into motion to carry the loaded pallette away and deliver another pallette in its place and the mould elements are lowered. As soon as the different parts have reached their original position, the machine is automatically stopped.

There is, of course, considerable latitude in the selection of means for automatically stoppingthe machine at precisely the same point of each cycle of operation. The particular means shown do not form a part of the invention except in so far as they contribute to the function of the arrange ment as a whole.

As indicated in the drawings, the shaft 39 may be driven from any suitable source of wer and contain a fly wheel 52 and pinion 53 in mesh with a gear 54 on a shaft 55. The shaft 55 and the cam shaft 31 are interconnected. by means of a well known type of one revolution clutch operating to automatically break connection at the end of one revolution. To start the operation of the machine, the lever 56 is pulled to the right in Fig. 1, and turned about its pivot 57, whereby through the link 58 the clutchdisengaging member 59 is withdrawn from operative position and the clutch mechanism allowed to effect connection between the shaft 31 and the shaft 55. After the shaft 31 has made one revolution, the clutch members are automatically separated by the member 59. Suitable brake mechanism maybe provided to immediately stop the shaft 31 as soon as the clutch connection is broken.

While the construction described constitutes what we believe to bee preferred embodiment of the invention, we are fully aware that it is susceptible of numerous changes as to detail.

By means of the extended bearing of the the one side, and the cam and lever 47, on

the other side, not only insures a positive compression stroke of the ram, but prevents vibratory movement of the ram while the mould is stripped from the moulded block.

In the" foregoing, reference has been made only to the mechanism and the co-operative relationship of the difierent parts thereof for carrying out a definite cycle of operation.

An important feature incident to the operation is the provision of means for permitting the escape of air which is bound to be entrained, occluded or absorbed in the mix and confined in the mould. This air, unless its escape be facilitated, would give rise to air pockets and hollow spaces which im air the uality of the tile.

aving re erence to Fig. 4, represents a vent tube connecting the hollow space 61 of the core 11 with the atmosphere. The space 61 is in communication with the mould space 12 by means of a plurality of perforations inthe wall of the core 11, preferably distributed more or less uniformly all around the core 11. While there is, ot course, considerable latitude in that respect, it prefer to provide small notches-or channels 62 .in the lower edge of the core and these channels preferably expand or flare inwardly, as indicated by the reference character 62*, leaving only a very short neck portion. By this arrangement the resistance of a channelas an air passa e is relatill tively small and the danger of 0 0g ing is likewise correspondingly small. uring stripping the material that may fill the chels readily drops on.

We claim 1. In a machine for making hollow tile, the combination of two mould elements de fining a vertical interspacefor receiving the material to be moulded, a ram having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the interspace, a support below the mould elements, mechanism for cyclically moving the mould elements, the ram and the support relatively to each other to compress material in the mould and then liftin the mould elements to leave the moulde block upon the support, manually operable control means for setting the mechanism into motion and means for automatically stopping the mechanism at the end of a cycle of operation.

2. In a machine for making hollow tile, the combination of two mould'elements de fining a vertical interspace for receiving the material to be moulded, a ram having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the interspace. a support below the mould elements, a source of power, translating mechanism for moving the mould elements, the ram and the support relatively to each other in vertical direction to compress material in the mould and then lifting the mould elements to leave the moulded block upon the support, means .for moving the support out of the range of movement of the moulds, means interconnecting the said translating mechanism and said means to cause movement of the latter when the said relative movement in vertical direction is completed, manually operable control means for setting the translating mechanism into motion and means for automatically stopping the said mechanism at the end of a cycle of operation.

3. In a machine for making hollow tile, the combination of two mould elements defining a vertical interspace for receiving the material to be moulded, a ram having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the interspace, a support below the mould elements, mechanism for moving the mould elements and the ram relatively to each other and to the support in vertical direction to compress material in the mould and then lifting the mould elements to leave the moulded block upon the support, means for moving the support out of the range of movement of the moulds, means interconnecting the said, mechanism and the said means for causing movement of the latter when the said relative movement of the mould elements and the ram is completed, manually operable control means for setting the said mechanism into motion and means for automatically stopping the said mechanism at the end of a cycle of operation.

a. In a machine for making hollow tile, the combination of two mould elements defining a vertical interspace for receiving the material to be moulded, a ram having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the interspace, a support below the mould elements, and mechanism for moving the mould elements and the ram relatively to each other and to the support in vertical direction to compress material in the mould and leave the moulded block upon the support, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to hold the mould elements and the support stationary during part of the operating cycle while the rain is caused to descend into the interspace to compress the material, then lift the ram slightly to relieve the compressed material of pressure, and simultaneously lift the mould elements until they are clear of the moulded block and then lift the ram.

5. In a machine for making hollow tile, the combination of two mould elements defining a vertical interspace for receiving the material to be moulded, a ram having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the interspace, a support below the mould elements, mechanism for moving the mould elements and the ram relatively to each other and to the support in vertical direction to compress material in the mould and leave the moulded block upon t hesupport, said mechanism including means for supporting the mould elements as a unit and the ram for movement in vertical direction independently of each other, a shaft, separated cams thereon for co-operation with the said means respectively, the camsbeing constructed and arranged to hold the mould elements and the support stationary during part of the operating cycle while the ram is caused to descend into the interspace to compress the material, then lift the ram slightly to relieve the compressed material of pres sure within the mould and simultaneously lift the mould elements until they are clear of the moulded block and then lift the ram.

6. In a machine for making hollow tile, the combination of two mould elements defining a vertical interspace for receiving the material to be moulded, a ram having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the interspace, a carrier for successively moving a plurality of pallettes in a horizontal plane, means for supporting the mould elements as a unit for movement upwardly from said planes in vertical direction, means for supporting the ram for movement in vertical direction in alignment with the interspace, a source of power and translating mechanism between the source of power, the said carrier and the said supporting means for moving the mould elements and the said ram relatively to each other to compress material in the mould, then leave the moulded material upon a pallette and then move the carrier to carry the loaded pallette away and position another pallette below the mould elements, manual control means for setting the translating mechanism into motion and means for automatically stopping the translating mechanism, the stopping means being constructed and arranged to stop exactly at that point of each cycle of operation when a new pallette has moved into position below .the mould elements and the mould elements are in their lowermost posit-ion incontact with the pallette while the ram is in its highest position above the mould elements.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the translating mechanism for effecting the relative movement between the mould elements and the ram is so constructed and arranged that after the ram has moved to its lowermost position to compress the material in the mould, the ram is slightly lifted to release the pressure upon the moulded material and that then the mould elements are lifted while the ram remains stationary until the mould elements have cleared the moulded material.

8. In a machine for making hollow tile, the combination, of a carrier for intermittently moving a plurality of pallettes in a horizontal plane, mould elements defining a vertical interspace for receiving the material to be moulded, a ram for compressing the material in the mould, a frame movable in vertical direction for supporting the mould elements as a unit, a frame movable in vertical direction for supporting the ram in alignment with the interspace of the moulds, a source of power and translating mechanism for moving the mould elements and the ram relatively to each other and to the carrier to first compress material in the mould, then lifting the mould elements to leave the moulded material upon a pallette, and then moving the carrier to remove the loaded pallette and move another pallette into position below the mould, said translating mechanism including a cam shaft carrying cams actuating the said frames and the said carrier.

9. Moulding apparatus comprising a mould open at the top and bottom, portable means forming a closure at the bottom of the mould, a ram and means, including mechanism for vertically moving the mould and the ram independently of each other, for first compressing material in the mould and then leaving the compressedmaterial upon the portable means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 including a conveyor carrying a plurality of portable means and means for operating the mould and ram and the conveyor in cyclic order tov successively position portable means below the mould, compress material in the mould and leave the compressed material upon the portable means and carry away the latter.

11. Apparatus for making hollow tile, comprising a mould defining a vertical mould space, ortable means forming a closure at the ttom of the mould space, a ram and means, including mechanism for vertically moving the mould and the ram independently of each other, for first compressing material in the mould and then leaving the compressed material upon the portable means.

12. In moulding apparatus, the combination with a support, of a mould defining a vertical mould space, a ram, and means for vertically moving the mould and the ram independently of each other, said means includlng rods vertically movable through the support and supporting one of said elements and means movable on said rods for supporting the other of said elements.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the mould is supported on the rods and the ram-supporting means is movable on the rods. J 14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including links depending from the ram and cam mechanism acting upon the said rods andthe said links for imparting vertical movement to the mould and to the ram relatively to the support and to each other. 15. In moulding apparatus, the combination with a support, of. a mold definin a vertical mould space, a ram and means or verticall moving the mould and the ram indepen ently of each other, said means including rods vertically movable through'the support and supporting one of said elements, means movable on the rods for 52% portin the other of said elements, li pivota ly connected at their upper ends to said'other element and separate cam mechanism for acting upon the. rods and the links to move the mould and the ram relatively,

to the support and to each other.

16. Apparatus for moulding material, com rising a mould defining a vertical mou d space, portable means forming a closure at the bottom thereof, a ram and means for independently moving the mould andthe ram vertically relatively to each other and to the portable means to first compress material in the mould and then for an leave the compressed material upon the mould, said means including rods pivotally connected with the ram and depending therefrom, levers pivotally mounts at one end and interconnected with the rods at the other end, cams mounted above the said levers and cooperating therewith to prescribe a definite cycle of movement for the ram and means for maintaining the levers in contact with the cams.

17. A paratus according to claim 16 in which t e means for maintaining the levers in contact with the cams comprise a separate cam mounted for angular movement with said cams and a separate lever cooperating with the separate cam and mounted ar movement with said levers.

18. apparatus for making hollow tile,

two mould elements defining a vertical mould space, the core element being hollow and havm horizontal perforations between the moul space and the hollow space of the core element near the bottom thereof and the perforations having a narrow neck portion adjacent the mould space and expandin toward the hollow space.

11 testimony whereof, we aifix our signatures.

MORRIS KATCHER. ROWLAND MQWILLIAMS. 

